Ohio sheriff says this year's pot plants are puny

Published: August 1, 2012 4:46 PM

HAMILTON, Ohio (AP) -- This summer's hot, dry weather has made for some puny pot plants.

Butler County Sheriff Rick Jones said the southern Ohio agency's annual marijuana sweep found pot plants that "considerably smaller than in years past."

Jones says he figures that the current drought isn't just hurting the legitimate farmers, but also people who grow the illegal weed in remote locations.

The Cincinnati Enquirer (http://cin.ci/Qv0L25 ) reports that trained spotters aboard the sheriff's helicopter went out looking for pot plants on Tuesday. They found the contraband crop in seven locations and uprooted more than 80 plants.

Investigations were continuing to gather evidence that could lead to charges against those who were farming the plants.

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This summer's drought has been the most widespread across the U.S. since 1956.